Army Sgt. Bruce Rushforth Killed In Operation Enduring Freedom PhilippineCopter Crash

REMEMBER THE FALLEN

ARMY SERGEANT BRUCE A. RUSHFORTH

 DIES IN COPTER CRASH IN PHILIPPINES

By Bob Lessard Historian, Simeon L. Nickerson

 Post 64, American Legion

(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro’s war casualties. This is intended to remember the sacrifices of all veterans and especially those who gave their lives to our country. A slogan worthy of repeating states: “ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL.”)

 In late February 2002, Middleboro residents learned of the tragic death of United States Army Sergeant Bruce A. Rushforth, Jr., 35, who was killed in an over the water helicopter crash, while returning to an air base on Mactan Islet in the Philippines.

Sergeant Rushforth was serving as flight engineer of an MH-47E Chinook helicopter with Echo Company, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment based out of Taegu, Republic of Korea, when the copter crashed at sea on February 22, 2002. The aircraft was part of a training mission for Operation Enduring Freedom.

 The helicopter, which Bruce was serving as a crew member, was one of two which were ferrying supplies and US Special Forces. The copters had taken off from the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga to nearby Basilan Island, where guerrillas had been holding an American missionary couple and Filipino nurse for nine months.

 His unit was part of a reported 600 troop US military force that arrived to help local troops in their battle against the Abu Sayyaf rebel group, which were involved in the Global War on Terrosim.

 Bruce, who had lived on Rocky Meadow Street with his parents Bruce A. Rushforth, Sr., and Aurelia A. (Esty), was a 1984 graduate of Middleboro High School. That year’s yearbook has a biographical sketch about him with his senior class picture.

 Below his yearbook photo and name is the nickname “Bruiser.” Among the remarks about his “likes” the yearbook mentions “flying” and his “ambitions” mention his hope to be a commercial airline pilot and travel the world.” He was a TriCaptain of the basketball team and played baseball during all four years of high school.

 After High School, Bruce attended Hawthorne College in Antrim, New Hampshire, which offered courses in aeronautics/ aviation and computer science.

 Bruce enlisted in the Army in 1990.He received basic combat training at Fort Dix, NJ. He then saw advanced individual training at Fort Rucker in Alabama. Then was shipped to Fort Irwin, California. Later, he was transferred in 1993 to the 1st Aviation in Katterbach, Germany.

 Following his tour in Germany, he received additional training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, which proceeded his assignment to the base in Korea.

 Among his military awards, Sergeant Rushforth earned the Army Commendation with two Oak Leaf clusters; Army Achievement Medal with six Oak Leafs; the Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon; the Basic Aviation Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon and was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the air Medal.

 Besides his parents, he was survived by this wife Athena (Gallagher) Rushforth of Clarksville, Tenn; two sisters, Beth Stoddard of Middleboro and Theresa Meshnick of Westport. Also, his grandmother, Dorothy Rushforth of Florida. And, nieces and nephews, Jeffrey, Stephanie and Michael Stoddard of Middleboro; and Allison Meshnick of Westport.

 Bruce is remembered here in Middleboro by the bridge on Route 44 over the Nemasket River at Oliver Mill Park, which saw the “Staff Sergeant Bruce A. Rushforth, Jr., Memorial Bridge” dedicated on May 21, 2011.

 Senator Mark Pacheco (D-Taunton) and former State Representatives James Fagan and David Flynn were responsible for gaining the Rushforth Memorial Bridge distinction. Middleboro’s Veterans Honor Guard rendered military honors at the dedication, while Patriot Guard riders lined Route 44 over the bridge at the park holding American flags to honor Sgt. Rushforth.(Published May 14, 2018.)